Final answer:
In Shakespeare's Macbeth, the initial dynamic of Macbeth as the hesitant nobleman and Lady Macbeth as the ambitious instigator is reversed by the end. Lady Macbeth's resolve crumbles into madness, while Macbeth becomes increasingly ruthless, acting with cold calculation.
Step-by-step explanation:
By the end of William Shakespeare's play Macbeth, the roles of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have reversed significantly. Initially, Lady Macbeth is the driving force behind the plan to murder King Duncan and is depicted as ruthless and ambitious. She chastises Macbeth for his hesitations and infuses him with the resolve needed to commit the regicide.
As the play progresses, Macbeth grows increasingly ambitious and power-hungry, evolving into a tyrannical ruler. This transformation marks a significant shift in his character from the hesitant nobleman initially influenced by his wife. Contrastingly, Lady Macbeth's initial steely resolve diminishes, leading to guilt-induced madness. By the final acts, Lady Macbeth is consumed by guilt and anxiety, evidenced by her sleepwalking and obsessive hand-washing, while Macbeth exhibits calculated coldness and a willingness to commit further violence without her prompting.